In Woods Harbour, the healing begins

A memorial for five missing fishermen sits in the Calvary United Baptist Church in Woods Harbour on Sunday. Many residents of the small fishing village attended a special service dedicated to the five local fishermen who were lost at sea after their boat capsized last week. (DEVAAN INGRAHAM / The Canadian Press)

WOODS HARBOUR — THE COMMUNITY GATHERED in churches Sunday to remember the five young men lost one week ago in a horrific winter storm at sea.

The 14-metre halibut boat Miss Ally out of Woods Harbour capsized and all five crew are feared dead.

At Calvary United Baptist Church, the congregation sang, “Jesus rides in my vessel. He gives me peace in the midst of the storm,” as snow began to fall across the region.

“We’ve got to go back to work on this ocean. This is the work God gave us,” said Sandy Stoddard, a fisherman and friend of the lost crew.

“That which we have feared the most has come upon us,” said pastor Phil Williams.

“It’s not been a normal week. It’s not been an average week. It has been a week of sadness. It’s been a defining moment in our community’s life.”

“The shortest verse in all the Bible is, “Jesus wept,” ’ Williams told the hundreds gathered, including family members seated in the first few rows of the church.

“If you need help, please make the phone ring. Send an email. Send a text.”

“The Seal Island light is shining this morning,” Williams said.

And many have kept their front porch lights burning throughout the week.

Many in the community had expressed outrage that search efforts were called off too soon and that more areas should have been scoured.

“I would like to beg with you this morning to suspend judgment and contempt,” the pastor said.

Much hugging was done and many tears were shed during and after church.

“I can’t even imagine what those families are going through right now. I know as friends our hearts ache,” said one woman as she left the church.

“We (had) a glimmer of hope when they found the hull, hoping that they would find the boys aboard. Then of course they didn’t so that was another bit of sad news,” she said.

“I had a nephew aboard that boat. His name is BillyJack,” said Kenny Hatfield.

“He was just like one of my own sons and I've been crying ever since it happened.”

The yellow hull of the overturned boat was spotted by an airplane at about
10 a.m. Saturday, about 45 kilometres northwest of the boat’s last known position one week ago.

Local commercial divers inspected the overturned hull of the stricken halibut boat but found no bodies. Indeed, the wheel house and sleeping quarters were no longer attached.

Fishing boats carrying the divers were expected to return to Woods Harbour or possibly another local port early Sunday evening. Some community members plan to greet their return and thank them for their efforts.

On Sunday morning, Canadian Navy divers from HMCS Glace Bay used a remote-controlled underwater vehicle to examine the capsized vessel. That search also revealed no evidence of bodies.

“On behalf of the RCMP, Department of National Defence and the coast guard we would like to express our sincerest condolences to the families,” said RCMP Supt. Sylvie Bourassa-Muise in a release.

Five men, ranging in age from 21 to 32, were on board the Miss Ally on Feb. 17: skipper Katlin Nickerson, Tyson Townsend, Joel Hopkins, Steven Cole Nickerson and BillyJack Hatfield. They ran into vicious winter weather — near hurricane force northwest winds and 10-metre waves.

An automatic distress signal was sent from the boat just after 11 p.m. that night.

On the Woods Harbour waterfront Sunday afternoon, more than one fisherman said they hoped Transport Canada would not leave the Miss Ally at sea.